I opened my mouth to confirm, and then shut it wordlessly, my hands nervously twitching over the heap of gear we were packing away. Pants. Where were my pants? Unbelievable. I was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in less than 12 hours, and had forgotten my pants in Los Angeles.

As an immunologist, come winter, I see a lot of children with viral infections, most often caused by respiratory viruses that affect the nose and throat -- and a lot of parents unhappy with the missed school days! But, there are key steps that parents can take to both prevent viral infections in the first place and, should your child come down with one, to aid in a much quicker recovery.

Functionality is key in this parka for under $500 that boasts nap-down gunflaps, a storm placket, dual-entry cargo pockets and rib-knit cuff inserts, while a waist cinching drawstrings keeps the silhouette feminine.